Cotton sampler



W. C. PITTS AND R. H. HAINES.

COTTON SAMPLER.

APPLICATION FILED IAII.2I, I92I.

1,428,978, Patentedsept. 12, 1922.,

a fv'it Patented Sept. 12, 1922 UNITED STATES 'WILL AM coLUMBUs rrrrs annzaoiana r H. HAINES, or MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE.

COTTON SAMPLER.

Application filed January 21, 1921, Serial No. 438,971.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, WILLIAM COLUMBUS Prr'rs and ROBERT H. HAINES, citizens of the United States, residingat Memphis, in the county-of Shelby and State of Tennessee, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Cotton Samplers; and we do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in attachments for cotton gins or condensers and relates more particularly to what will be hereinafter known as a cotton sampler, the main object of the present invention being the provision of a device to be applied to the chute of a condenser for obtaining an average sample of each bale of cotton, after the. same has been ginned and compressed and before it has been arranged in bales.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a device adapted to be applied to the chute of a condenser for obtaining samples of each bale of cotton after the samehas been ginned, said device being operated from power derived from the compression rolls of the condenser, whereby it can be readily operated to obtain a sample of each bale of cotton as it passes the condenser into the press. I

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel features and construction, the combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully set forth, pointed out in the claims and shown in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is an end elevation of a condenser, illustrating the application of our improved cotton sampler attached to the chute of the condenser,

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view, and

Figure 3 is a plan view, illustrating the relative positions of the rollers.

In the accompanying drawings, illustrating our improved invention, the numeral 1 designates suit-able frame work of a cotton condenser which supports the condenser 2 that condenses and compresses the cotton after being ginned and before being passed into the press for baling. Extending outwardly from one side of the condenser 2 is Figure 1, is supported beneath the chute 4 and includes a suitable casing 7 secured to the bottom of the chute by means of the flanges 8 which are bolted or otherwise secured to the bottom board of the chute. Arranged transversely within the casing 7 are the two rolls 9 and 10, the roll 9 being provided with suitable spike members 11 which are adapted to pass through a slot 12 in the bottom of the chute 4 upon the rotation of the roller whereby samples of the compressed cotton passing along the chute will be engaged by the members 11 and drawn downwardly into the casing 7.

After the cotton is drawn into the casing 7 by means of the spike members 11, the roller 10, which is provided with a brush surface 13 will engage with the cotton on the members 11 and remove the same therefrom into a sample box arranged within the casing 7 v and in a suitable posit-ion whereby to receive the cotton from the brush 13.

The sample box which is generally indicated by the numeral 14, includes a casing bolted or otherwies secured to the bottom of the casing 7 and arranged beneath an opening in the bottom of the casing 7, whereby the samples of cotton which are removed from the spike members 11 by the brush 13 will be thrown into the sample box. In order that samples from each bale of the cotton may be separately taken, a removable box member 15 is arranged within the casing 14 and after the samples have been taken from one of the bales, this box 15 is removed and a new one inserted, so that samples from the next bale can be readily obtained.

One end of the casing 7 is provided with inclined converging walls 16, the lower wall forming a guide whereby the cotton from the brush 13 will be guided into the sample box 15. T he inner ends of the converging walls 16 are spaced apart to provide for an air escape from the casing 7. The ends of the shafts which support the rollers 9 and 10 project outwardly beyondthe casing 7 and also extend beyond the side portions of the chute 4 and the shaft which supports the brush roller 10 is provided with a's'procket 17 which is connected by means of a .chain 18 to a suitable sprocket 19'mounted upon the outer end of one of. the shaft-s of the compress rolls 6. The shaft of the roller 9 is provided with a-pulleyZ20i connected by means of a belt 21 to a suitable pulley on the shaft of the Iroller l for conveying power from -the shaft of the -'-roller to the roller 9. 7

'It will be; noted :from the above: description,- taken in connect-ion with the accompanying drawings, that we have provided a simple device adapted to ibe'applied to the chute of a cotton gin or condenser whereby samples ofthe cotton; bale can be obtained before the sameis pressed into its baled form. It is the general practice, at the v present time,.that inobtainingsamples from a bale of cotton, the wrapperiin which the bale is wrapped is' either: cut or torn and samplesof. cottonI taken from the bale at various parts thereoflso that theaverage grade'of'the cotton can be determined. This 1 means considerable-expense and waste in the covering mater al for-the bale and it is our mainobject toprovide a device wherebythe; samples of cotton can be readily obtained before the same is baled, thus saving the trouble and expense of obtaining the average samples after the cottonhas been already baled.

: WVhat we claim is v 1 l.'Inv a cotton sampler, the combination with a chute.--disposed in an inclined position for thelconveyance of compressed cotton -having a slot in thebottom thereof, of a casing arranged beneath the chute and embracing the slot, arollmounted for rotation Within the. casing directly beneath the slot, spike members projecting from the periphery ofsaid roll and movable through the slot to engage the cotton passing through .thechute for removing small "portions therefrom, a second roll in the casing carrying brushes for removing,- the cotton from the spike members, a removable'sample box attached to the casing for receiving the portions of the cotton, -.inclined v converging walls formed inzone end of the casing, one of said walls forming a guide for directing the cotton samples into the'sainple box and means for imparting movement to the rolls.

2. In a cottonsampler, the. combination with a chute disposedin an inclined position for the conveyance :ofcompressed cotton,

having a slot in. the bottom thereof,- of a casing arranged beneath the chute, a roll mounted for rotation within the casing, directly, beneath the slot-in the chute, spike members projecting from the periphery of said roll and movable throughthe slot. to I WILLIAM COLUMBUS" rirTsQ f ROBERTHHAINES; j

tures.

- In testimony whereof we afiix our signa-i 

